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On cosmetic packaging we can find a whole range of symbols. Not everyone, however, knows exactly what each symbol means. This ignorance can endanger our health. For this reason it is important to learn the individual meanings of these pictograms and to follow them consistently.
Until the last drop? Better not
People using decorative cosmetics should be particularly alert. It is common for them to use their favorite lipstick, foundation or eye shadow until the product is completely finished. However, this can contribute to the development of unpleasant eye infections or skin inflammations, which most often appear as redness, swelling or painful rashes.
It does not end with decorative cosmetics – the same rules apply to functional cosmetics. Using them after their expiration not only risks the complications mentioned above, but they also lose their effectiveness. This problem arises, for example, with sunscreens – they then protect the skin only minimally.
How to tell the shelf life?
If you are not sure whether the product you are using is still suitable for use, pay attention to the symbols on the packaging. Specifically the one shaped like an open jar. Directly beneath it there is information about the period during which the product can be used safely after opening.
This symbol is found only on cosmetics whose shelf life is shorter than 30 months. For products that can be used longer, there is usually an indication recording the minimum durability in specific time units (month, year).
To be sure that you are using cosmetics that are truly effective and at the same time safe for your health, it pays to check these details carefully. Only in this way can you prevent possible complications and other unpleasantnesses, the treatment of which is often more expensive than buying a new product.
